The American Cancer Society predicts that roughly 67,440 people will be diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in 2025, and they predict 51,980 of them will die. Unfortunately, pancreatic cancer doesn’t cause any symptoms until its late stages, which means that it’s often not diagnosed until it has already become advanced and more difficult to treat.
However, if you know that you have risk factors that put you at an increased risk, early detection may be possible. Early detection is a patient’s best chance of adding more comfortable years to their life.
Preventative Diagnostic Center offers assistance and screening tests that may be able to offer some peace of mind. Keep reading to learn more about detecting pancreatic cancer in its early and most treatable stages.
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Understanding Pancreatic Cancer
According to the Mayo Clinic, the pancreas is a small pear-shaped organ that sits behind the lower part of the stomach. The pancreas is important for proper digestion and blood sugar regulation, as it secretes enzymes that aid in digestion and produces vital hormones, such as insulin that help to regulate blood sugar.
Pancreatic cancer happens when DNA becomes altered in the cells within the pancreas. These altered cells are commonly referred to as “cancer cells.” In a healthy cell, the cell performs their designed function, then dies and is replaced with another cell at a set rate.
However, cancer cells grow at a faster rate and die too slowly. This leads to an abundance of cancer cells growing rapidly and then eventually creating the growth(s) commonly referred to as tumors.
Pancreatic Cancer Tumors Can Affect Surrounding Structures
Pancreatic cancer tumors invade otherwise healthy body tissue, which inevitably can lead to problems with organ function and pain. For example, even relatively small tumors on the head of the pancreas can push against the bile duct of the liver, blocking it from secreting bile into the digestive system.
This leads to a buildup of bilirubin (a substance found in bile) in the liver, which leads to jaundice (a yellowing of the eyes and skin). Jaundice can also happen if pancreatic cancer has spread to the liver, which is a common first organ for the cancer to spread due to its proximity to the pancreas.
Cancer cells can also break away from the tumor(s) and invade other parts of the body, which is why early detection is important — to prevent cancer from spreading.
The most common type of pancreatic cancer is pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma. This type of cancer originates within the ducts that transport digestive enzymes from the pancreas.
Risk Factors To Know
The Mayo Clinic notes that the following are factors that may increase your risk of pancreatic cancer:
- A family history of pancreatic cancer.
- A family history of certain DNA changes, such as the BRCA2 gene, Lynch syndrome, and FAMMM (familial atypical multiple mole melanoma) syndrome.
- Smoking.
- Type 2 diabetes.
- Chronic pancreatitis (inflammation of the pancreas).
- Age (pancreatic cancer is diagnosed most often in those over 65).
- Obesity.
- Excessive alcohol consumption.
If you’re at a higher risk, it is important to discuss preventative strategies (including the possibility of screening tests) with your doctor. According to the American Cancer Society, there have been cases where doctors have found pancreatic cancer in its early and treatable stage by testing for it early in families with a heightened risk.
Can Pancreatic Cancer Be Prevented?
While there is no way to prevent pancreatic cancer, the Cleveland Clinic notes that the following may reduce your risk of developing pancreatic cancer:
- Quitting smoking.
- Reducing alcohol consumption.
- Incorporating plenty of fruits, vegetables, and whole grains into your diet.
- Reducing the amount of red meat, processed sugar, and processed foods in your diet.
- Avoiding exposure to chemicals, such as asbestos, pesticides, and petrochemicals.
- Keeping a healthy weight.
- Talking to your doctor about pancreatic cancer screening if you have a first-degree relative (parent or sibling) who has pancreatic cancer.
How Do You Detect Pancreatic Cancer Early?
Because pancreatic cancer often causes no symptoms until its advanced stages, early detection of pancreatic cancer can be tricky. However, in cases where a patient has significant risk factors for pancreatic cancer, doctors may recommend early detection methods.
Early detection strategies for pancreatic cancer rely on the traditionally diagnostic measures in hopes of catching the cancer in its early stages, if it develops. According to the Mayo Clinic, the following methods are used to diagnose pancreatic cancer:
Blood Tests
In some cases of pancreatic cancer, a protein called CA19-9 is produced and detected in the blood. This protein is therefore referred to as a “tumor marker” and can be used to detect certain cases of pancreatic cancer, and then to evaluate how the cancer responds to treatment after diagnosis. Unfortunately, not all pancreatic cancer produces this protein, so this test is painless and useful, but not conclusive.
Genetic Testing
Genetic testing can also be done with blood tests (or saliva) to indicate whether or not you carry inherited DNA markers that would indicate an increased risk of cancer. These tests can be done on those already diagnosed to guide treatment, and to evaluate whether their family members are at an increased risk.
These tests can also be done on those who have a close family member with pancreatic cancer and want to know if they inherited these markers. This is helpful so that patients can discuss whether they should consider further testing in hopes of finding pancreatic cancer in its earliest stages, if they get it.
Imaging Scans
Medical scans are used in diagnosing pancreatic cancer to get visual pictures of the tumor(s). The type of scan depends on many factors and can include one or more of the following:
- An ultrasound.
- A computerized topography scan (CT scan).
- A magnetic resonance imaging scan (MRI scan).
- A positron emission tomography scan (PET scan).
Endoscopic Ultrasound
This test uses an endoscope (a thin tube with a camera at the end) that is maneuvered down your throat and into your stomach. The device then uses sound waves to take pictures of the surrounding tissues. Since your stomach is so close to your pancreas, this procedure is often used to get up close pictures of the pancreas.
The Role of Screening Tests
A 2025 study published by The National Library of Medicine found that preventative approaches, such as screening tests for early detection of pancreatic cancer, can make “significant advancement” in enhanced patient outcomes and survival rates.
Pancreatic cancer early detection through screening tests is noted for needing further studies, but these findings show promise in the benefits of early detection.
Consider a Screening Test at Preventative Diagnostic Center
If you’re at high risk of pancreatic cancer, consider getting a CT scan at Preventative Diagnostic Center to check for early signs of pancreatic cancer before any symptoms even appear. Be sure to discuss your health history with your doctor before undergoing any screening test to assess your risk factors and what test(s) may or may not be best for you.
Benefits of Screening Tests
- Early diagnosis leads to early action against cancer spreading.
- Improved patient outcomes.
- Peace of mind.
Why Early Detection Matters
Early detection is vital not only to surviving pancreatic cancer but also to living more comfortably with the time you have left (if you are diagnosed with pancreatic cancer). According to the American Cancer Society, the five-year survival rate for pancreatic cancer when it is localized (when the cancer hasn’t spread outside of the pancreas) is 13%, and the overall five-year survival rate is 44%.
Keep in mind that the above numbers are based on data taken between 2014 and 2020, and pancreatic cancer research is still being done to improve outcomes. According to Dr. Jin He, who wrote an article on the topic for Johns Hopkins Medicine, the earlier pancreatic cancer is caught and treated, the better the patient’s outcome.
In fact, Dr. He notes that up to 10% of patients diagnosed early are disease-free after treatment. This is likely because if the tumors are caught before they metastasize (spread to other parts of the body), they have a 15 to 20% chance of being able to be surgically removed. If tumors are able to be removed, and the patient can complete chemotherapy after removal, the five-year survival rate goes up to 50%.
When it comes to preventing pancreatic cancer, it’s crucial to know your risk factors and discuss them with your doctor. If you have a significant number of risk factors, it’s vital to speak to your doctor about the possible benefits of early screening tests.
Be proactive about your healthcare, ask about genetic testing, and inquire whether a CT scan at Preventative Diagnostic Center would be advised, given your medical history. In many cases, low-dose CT scans can offer patients peace of mind.
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Sources:
Can Pancreatic Cancer Be Found Early?. (2024).
He, J. (n.d.). Pancreatic Cancer Prognosis.
Jin, D. (2025). Informatics Strategies for Early Detection and Risk Mitigation in Pancreatic Cancer Patients.
Key Statistics for Pancreatic Cancer. (2025).
Pancreatic Cancer. (2023).
Pancreatic Cancer. (2024).
Pancreatic Cancer. (2024).
